Impatiens plant named &#39;Tisalmon&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new double  Impatiens walleriana  plant named ‘TiSalmon’, producing salmon flowers; dark green foliage; fully double flowers held above or beyond the foliage on strong peduncles and pedicels; and a compact mounded growth habit.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Impatiens walleriana

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘TiSalmon’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The novel plant comprises a new and distinct cultivar of plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘TiSalmon’, which is shown in the photograph accompanying this specification.

The cultivar was developed and selected in a controlled breeding program in a controlled environment in Rogue River, Oreg., by the inventors, Harlan Cosner and Sue Cosner, as described herein. The plants may be used in landscaping, window and hanging baskets and flower gardens. The plants are generally classed as an annual bedding plant.

2. Description of the Relevant Prior Art

‘TiSalmon’ is compared with Impatiens walleriana named ‘Neon Salmon’, subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,549. The Impatiens plant differs from prior plants, namely ‘Neon Salmon’ in at least the following ways:

-   -   1. ‘Neon Salmon’ does not flower as well in the heat as         ‘TiSalmon.’     -   2. See accompanying comparison chart.         These and other distinguishing characteristics will be apparent         to persons skilled in the art.

DISCOVERY AND PARENTAGE

The cultivar was developed by standard cross-pollination. The pollen producing parent was an unpatented pollen producing double-flowered Impatiens walleriana, and the seed producing parent was an unpatented semi-double-flowered Impatiens walleriana. The seed parent's flower color was light orange, and the pollen parent's flower was salmon. Neither parent is either patented or commercially available.

The cross was made in the breeders' controlled breeding program at Rogue River, Oreg. The first asexual reproduction was also made at Rogue River, Oreg. Successive asexual generations produced from cuttings with two or more leaves have shown the cultivar to be stable and reproduced true to type. ‘TiSalmon’ is both male and female sterile.

SUMMARY

The cultivar is unique either in one or in combination of the characteristics described herein. It is a new double-flowered Impatiens walleriana producing salmon colored flowers; dark green foliage; fully double flowers held above or beyond the foliage; and a mounded growth habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant in full color, the color showing being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. There may be variations between the colors in the photograph and the colors in the following description due to light reflectance, or the amount of blue or red light captured in the film.

If such variations occur, the written description shall control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description was taken on Sep. 17, 2006. The photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the cultivar described herein. The accompanying color photograph was taken of a ‘TiSalmon’ plant of about 10 weeks of age from rooted cuttings at first inflorescence and illustrates a plant of ‘TiSalmon’ grown in summer and just beginning to mature.

Color references are according to The Royal Horticultural Society Chart, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The following description was taken from a plant of ‘TiSalmon’ grown under the following environment and cultural practices at Rogue River, Oreg. Phenotypical variations may result in plants grown under conditions and locations other than those listed herein.

-   Container: 6-inch Azalea pot. -   Medium: Peat-lite type of soilless medium. -   Greenhouse covering: Double layer Polyethelene with 50% shade     applied above the covering. -   Minimum outdoor temperature: 65° F. -   Maximum outdoor temperature: 115° F. -   Light levels: 2500-3000 ft candles. -   Fertilizer: 20-10-20 with trace elements applied twice followed by     one leaching with clear water. -   Cutting type: Lateral stems with two or more leaves. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of cutting.—Lateral stems with two or more leaves.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Generally about 7 to 10 days at soil             temperature of 72° F. -   Appearance and form of mature plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Mounded and of compact-medium vigor.         -   Plant size.—Plants mature at about 15 cm in height and about             20 cm in width. Both of these measurements are a function of             age, environmental and cultural practices, and can vary             accordingly.         -   Rooting habit.—The roots are fibrous and well-branched.         -   Rooting ability.—Easy, no hormones needed.         -   Stems.—Stems are freely produced and no pinching to induce             branching is needed. Color is 146C with stippling of very             small markings that are difficult to determine but which             appear to be close to 183C, stippling is heavier at the             nodes. The stems at maturity are generally about 4 mm in             diameter at the internodes, and the longest internode length             is generally at least 3.5 cm in length.         -   Foliage.—Shape is ovate with cuneate to attenuate base;             crenate margin, margin having tiny spines of an             undeterminable reddish to brownish red color and each being             less than 1 mm in length and protruding outwards in a             perpendicular direction from leaf edge and parallel to the             flat surfaces of the leaf between the lobes of the crenate             margin; and an acuminate apex. Size of largest leaves is             about 5 cm long; about 3.5 cm wide.         -   Foliage color.—Adaxial surface close to 147A; abaxial             surface close to 147C; abaxial surface venation is close to             148A; adaxial surface venation is barely distinguishable,             main vein at base is closest to 146A, lateral veins are             close to 146A.         -   Foliage texture.—Smooth and flat.         -   Petioles.—Longest petioles are about 2.5 cm long, half             round, flat to slightly convex on upper surface which is             about 3 mm wide, depth (from the upper surface to the bottom             surface) of about 1.5 mm. Adaxial surface color appears to             be 147C; abaxial surface color appears to be close to 146C             to 146D.         -   Flower habit.—Flowers are produced continuously throughout             the flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year around in greenhouse             conditions, and the frost free period from spring through             fall when planted outdoors.         -   Duration of flower.—Each flower generally lasts about 4 days             at 110° F. maximum and 65° F. minimum temperature.         -   Flowers borne.—Above or beyond the foliage.         -   Flower texture.—Smooth and satiny.         -   Flower color.—Largest Petals/petaloids — Adaxial surface is             closest to 52A, but is slightly more orange tinged, with a             purplish basal spot close to 66A. Abaxial surface is closest             to 52D.         -   Quantity.—Usually two or more open flowers per stem.         -   Petal/petaloid count.—Generally 25 or more.         -   Size.—Flowers are generally about 5 cm in diameter;             generally about 2.5 cm deep. The largest petals/petaloids             are generally about 2.5 cm wide and about 2.25 cm long;             obovate to exaggerated obovate in shape with obtuse to             retuse apex, entire margin, and cuneate to obtuse base.         -   Flower buds.—The buds prior to opening are about 1 cm in             length; about 1 cm in diameter; shape is ovate. Bud color             prior to opening is close to 145A on top with a narrow ridge             close to 144A in the very center; and close to 144D on             bottom.         -   Peduncles.—Generally about 3 cm long; about 2 mm in             diameter; colored close to 148B. Good strength.         -   Pedicels.—Generally two or more per peduncle. Each is             generally about 2.5 cm in length, and about 1.5 mm in             diameter. Color is close to 148B. Good strength.         -   Calyx.—Calyx consists of generally one sepal and one spur.             It is generally about 2.5 cm long, and about 2 mm in             diameter at sepal end; shape is an acicular tapering tube 10             about 1 mm in diameter at the apex, and it is attached             toward the base of the sepal in a peltate manner. Color is             close to 172C at apex, and is closest to 172A at base. The             sepal generally splits down the middle as the flower opens,             each half generally measures about 0.5 cm wide, and about 1             cm long; ovate in shape with an acute apex, entire margin,             and obtuse to cordate base; adaxial surface is close to 145B             in the center or center edges if split, lightening to 145D             at the outer edges, with a basal spot where the spur is             attached close to 67A where the spur connects; the abaxial             surface is close to 145B and may have a stippled spot close             to 145B and a hard to determine color that appears close to             61A where the spur attaches. -   Reproductive organs: The reproductive organs are replaced with     sterile petaloids. -   Disease resistance: Disease resistance has not been tested. -   Dampness resistance: The plant has shown a good ability to hold the     flowers in an outward manner during summer rains. -   Heat tolerance: The plant has shown a good tolerance to temperatures     exceeding 100° F. at Rogue River by flowering continuously during     temperatures as high as 113° F.

COMPARISON CHART TO PRIOR ART

‘TiSalmon’ ‘Neon Salmon’ Stems-color 146C markings close Close to 146B with to 183C markings of 187B Foliage-Size about 5 cm long; About 5.5 cm long; about 3.5 cm wide about 4 cm wide Abaxial color close to 147C 147B with reddish blotches close to 183D Foliage-Abaxialventation close to 148A Close to 148A color Foliage-Adaxial color 147A 147A Foliage-Adaxial closest to 146A 146A, midrib 146A venation color with very tiny spots close to 187A to 187B Petiole-Size 2.5 cm long, upper abour 2 cm long and surface which is about about 3 mm width, 3 mm wide, depth of depth about 2 mm about 1.5 mmm Adaxial color 147C 1146B at leaf base, reddish tinge close to 187B at node end Petiole Abaxial color 146C to 146D 146B Petal/Petaloid-Size generally at least 2.5 about 2.1 cm in cm wide and at least length, about 2.5 cm 2.25 cm in width Abaxial color long closest to 52D 52C Petal/Petaloid Adaxial close to 52A with 52A at edges, 40 A color purplish basal spot from edges toward 66A base with a basal spot of 61B Peduncle-Size generally at least 3 cm about 2 cm long, about long, about 2 mm in 2 mm in diameter diameter Color close to 148B 146C to 146D Pedicle-Size 2.5 cm in length, and aabout 2 cm in length, at least 1.5 mm in 1.5 mm diameter Color color is close to 148B in diameter 146C to 146D Sepal-Size generally splits with about 1 cm wide and each half being about about 1 cm long 0.5 cm wide, and 1 cm long Adaxial color close to 145 B at close to, but darker center with edges to than 145A to 145B 145D Sepal Abaxial color close to 145B a spot close to 145A to 145B stippled with 145B and 61A Spur-Size generally at least 2.5 about 3.5 cm cm long and about 2 mm in diameter at sepal end Color close to 172C at apex, 148A and 172A at base Buds-Size about 1 cm in length; about 0.8 cm long, about 1 cm in diameter about 0.6 cm diameter Color 145A on top with a top 145A to 145B narrow ridge in center close to 144A and 144D on bottom. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of double-flowered Impatiens walleriana plant named ‘TiSalmon’, as illustrated and described herein. 